23. Ancient Egypt’s Warrior Queen
Ahhotpe I (flourished 16th century BC), whose name means “The Moon is Satisfied”, was a warrior queen of ancient Egypt’s Seventeenth Dynasty. She led armies in combat against the Hyksos – Semitic invaders who had conquered Lower Egypt. Ahhotpe took control of Egypt’s throne and military after her husband was killed fighting the invaders, and ruled as regent during the minority of her son, Ahmose I. She kept up the pressure against the Hyksos until her son was old enough to take over the fight.
A stele records her deeds: “The king’s wife, the noble lady, who knew everything, assembled Egypt. She looked after what her Sovereign had established. She guarded it. She assembled her fugitives. She brought together her deserters. She pacified her Upper Egyptians. She subdued her rebels … She is the one who has accomplished the rites and taken care of Egypt… She has looked after her soldiers, she has guarded her, she has brought back her fugitives and collected together her deserters, she has pacified Upper Egypt and expelled her rebels.”
